The Tucson metropolitan area is presently home to over 750,000, and is continuing to grow by nearly 2,000 new residents each month.  People visit Tucson for its rich history, recreational and cultural pursuits, gorgeous desert scenery, world-class hotels, and year-round sunshine.

In this city, where old and new are equally represented, traditional adobe architecture and modern high-rise buildings stand side by side. Folklorico mingles with modern art, dance and music. It is not uncommon to lunch on a topopo salad and dine that same evening on fine French cuisine.

Tucson (pronounced Too sahn)  has been continuously settled for over 12,000 years and is one of the oldest cities in the United States.  The city is spread out over hundreds of square miles in a scenic, high desert valley surrounded by five mountain ranges: the Santa Catalinas on the north and northeast, the Rincon range to the east, the Santa Rita Mountains on the south and southeast, the Tucson Mountain range on the west and the Tortolita Mountains to the northwest. Sentinel Peak, called "A" mountain by University of Arizona students, is slightly southwest of downtown Tucson and affords a fantastic view of the metropolitan area.

Tucson's historic neighborhoods are clustered within the central city and include Barrio Historico, El Presidio, Armory Park, West University, Sam Hughes, Iron Horse and the Pie Allen District (named for an early settler famous for his dried-apple pies). The downtown Arts District and the Fourth Avenue Shopping District are also centrally located.

Enjoy the architectural detail of Mission San Xavier del Bac; the breathtaking scenery and natural beauty of the mountains; the history and heritage of the Presidio district; the stately cacti in Saguaro National Park; the wet cave system in Kartchner Caverns State Park.  Then venture out to view the traditional and contemporary works at the Tucson Art Museum and aeronautical history at the Pima Air & Space Museum.

Tucson's climate varies from the warmth of the 2,400 foot high desert basin to the cool breezes and ski areas of the 9100 foot elevation of the forests of the Santa Catalina mountains. The City's dry desert air and winter sunshine make it a popular destination and winter resort. The City is home to the University of Arizona and to Davis Monthan Air force Base. Industries include electronics and missile production.

The Sonoran Desert Museum combines a world-renowned zoo, a natural history museum and cactus garden depicting the most colorful and diverse of Arizona's deserts. Explore the museum's hummingbird aviary, then hike among bighorn sheep while delighting in observing jumping cholla cactus and Western whiptail lizards.

After a day at the museums,  it’s time to relax in the Tucson Botanical Gardens, where you can drift away in a dreamy butterfly garden and meditate among Mexican gold poppies and owl clover wildflowers.

Spend some time underground in cool Colossal Cave amid stalactites and stalagmites; marvel at the peaks and valleys on a hike through Sabino Canyon; and  summarize the highlights of your natural journey at the famous Biosphere 2, a seven million foot airtight, glass replica of Earth's environment.   Don't miss Tucson's trademark blazing sunset streaked with turquoise and pink, and the perfect follow-up:  an evening of star-gazing at Kitt Peak National Observatory.

Visit Arizona, and discover Tucson!   This desert blooms with life!

Population:                  486,699

Elevation:                    2483 feet above sea level

Land Area:                   194.7 square miles

Location:                     Located in the mid southern area of Arizona, approximately 115 miles southeast of Phoenix at the intersection of Interstates 10 and 15

Time Zone:                  Mountain Time Zone (when it’s noon in Tucson, it’s 1pm in Chicago, 11am in Los Angeles, and 2pm in New York City).  Tucson does not observe Daylight Savings Time

Weather:

Climate:

Local Seasons:

Winter tends to be the busiest season as visitors flock to the area for its warm days and cool nights.  With daytime temperatures reaching the 70’s F and the nights dropping to the 50’s F, it’s a perfect time to escape the cold snowy areas for this beautiful climate.  Spring and fall are quite lovely with the days warm and the nights just cool enough for a relaxing fire in the fireplace.  Summers are hot but with the humidity barely above 50, there are pleasant.    Naturally, a dip in the pool is good at anytime.

How to Get There:

By Air

Tucson International Airport

7005 S Plumer Avenue

Tucson, AZ 85706

520-573-8100

The airport is located just 6 miles south of downtown and is served by many of the recognized large airlines as well as certain local and regional carriers.

Ground Transportation

Car rental, taxi, and limousine service is available at the airport as well as throughout the city.  In addition, many of the resorts offer free transportation.  Also, Sun Tran, the local public transit, operates a bus service to and from the airport (520-792-9222).

By Car

The major routes into Tucson are I-10 from the northwest (Phoenix) and east (El Paso).  I-19 connects Tucson with the Mexican border at Nogales. 

By Train

Amtrak

400 North Toole Avenue
Tucson, AZ 85701

800-USA-RAIL

By Bus

Greyhound

2 S 4TH Ave
Tucson, AZ 85701

520-792-3475

How to Get Around:

By far the best way to get around is by either personal or rental car.  Parking is plentiful and there are so many things to do and see in and around the city, making a car necessary.

National Holidays:

New Year's Day, Jan. 1

Martin Luther King, Jr., Day, 3rd Mon. in Jan.

President's Day, 3rd Mon. in Feb.

Memorial Day, last Mon. in May

Independence Day, July 4

Labor Day, 1st Mon. in Sept.

Thanksgiving Day, 4th Thurs. in Nov.

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, Dec. 24 and 25

New Year's Eve, Dec. 31

Neighborhoods and Districts

Armory Park Historic District
Tucson's first historic district offers an eclectic mix of architectural styles including Spanish, Victorian, Queen Anne, mission, Spanish Colonial Revival and California bungalow. The Temple of Music and Art (Tucson performance center for Arizona Theatre Company), Tucson Children's Museum and Tucson Center for the Performing Arts are all located in this 30-block area. The district extends from East 12th Street to 19th Street and from Stone Avenue to Second Avenue.

Barrio Historico (Barrio Viejo)
This neighborhood was established as Tucson spread south from the original Presidio settlement. It contains a large collection of old adobe buildings and offers excellent examples of Sonoran architecture built from local materials, including mesquite wood and saguaro cactus ribs. Originally a self-contained "city within a city," the 20-block Barrio was home to a wide range of ethnic groups over the years, and the variety of shops and buildings offers obvious evidence of that. The Barrio extends from Cushing Street to 18th Street and from the railroad tracks to Stone Avenue.

Downtown Arts District
A popular spot for arts and cultural events throughout the year, this area has galleries, shops, theaters and sidewalk cafes. La Placita Village (110 S. Church Ave.) is the attractive and colorful focal point of the district, which also houses the offices of the Metropolitan Tucson Convention and Visitors Bureau. The district extends from Interstate 10 to Fourth Avenue and from 15th Street to Toole Avenue.

El Presidio Historic District
The site of Tucson's original settlement in 1775, this 12-block area is now home to historic buildings, local artisans, restaurants and the Tucson Museum of Art. If you have just a short time to get a taste of Tucson, this is the place to do it. El Presidio extends from Alameda Street to Sixth Street and from Granada Avenue to Church Avenue.

Pie Allen Historic District
Fresh fruit was hard to come by in Tucson's frontier days, so John "Pie" Allen became famous for his dried-apple pies. He also served as Tucson's mayor. This district was named in his honor. These 24 blocks just west of the University of Arizona are representative of Tucson's building boom in the late 1800s, with several buildings designed by the city's best-known architect, Josias Joesler. The district is roughly bounded by North Euclid Avenue, East Sixth Street, North Park Avenue and East 10th Street.

South Tucson
With a Mexican-American population of 83%, this 1-mile-square city—completely surrounded by Tucson—is home to some of the best Mexican restaurants in the state. The city also is known for its public art projects, particularly murals, tile art and other installations along newly redesigned South Fourth Avenue. The city of South Tucson is located at the junction of Interstate 10 and I-19,  1.5 miles south of downtown Tucson.

 Attractions

ASARCO Mineral Discovery Center

W. Pima Mine Road (about 20 minutes south of Tucson), Sahuarita.

Phone 520-625-7513.

Tuesday-Saturday 9 am-5 pm. Free admission to the Mineral Discovery Center exhibits, Discovery Theater, and gift shop.
The center takes you from the beginning of Arizona mining to the present-day industry with exhibits about geology, minerals, mining methods and equipment. An optional one-hour bus tour of the ASARCO open-pit mine and mill is available.

 Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum

2021 N. Kinney Road (30 minutes northwest of downtown), Tucson.

Phone 520-883-2702.  

The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is open from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. October through February and from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. March through September.

Visit a zoo, a natural history museum, and a botanical garden when you visit the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. The attraction has an array of wildlife, including Gila monsters and hummingbirds. The museum sits in the Tucson Mountains and is perfectly blended with the breathtaking scenery. 

Arizona State Museum
The Arizona State Museum (ASM) is an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution and is the oldest and largest anthropology museum in the region. ASM demonstrates the life of the southwest with research projects and collections. The museum is open Monday through Friday from 9:30 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Biosphere 2 Center

Oracle Road (Highway 77) at mile marker 96.5 (about 20 minutes north of Tucson), Oracle.

Daily 9 am-4 pm.

Phone 520-838-6200.
Built in the late 1980s with $150 million in funding from Texas oil magnate Edward Bass, Biosphere 2 is an airtight replica of Earth's environment. This 7,200,000 cubic-foot sealed glass structure contains five biomes, including a 900,000-gallon ocean, a desert, a rain forest, agricultural areas, and a human habitat. Biosphere 2 was built in the interest of space travel and with the possibility of colonizing the Moon or Mars in mind. By building Biosphere 2 and sealing people inside, scientists hoped to learn what problems would arise from living in a closed system. To this end, a colony of eight people from different countries set about to live inside Biosphere 2 for two years in 1991. Since then, there have been no resident crews living inside Biosphere 2 and no future human habitation is planned. The guided tour leads visitors Under the Glass to experience first-hand the Center's re-created "miniworld." Visitors are advised to wear comfortable shoes as there is a lot of walking. 

Romero House

102 W. Washington St.

El Presidio District, Tucson.

Phone 520-624-2333.
This is the 1868 home of carpenter Leonardo Romero, who helped construct the original St. Augustine Cathedral. It is said that this home included part of the original Presidio wall. Sunday noon-4 pm, Monday-Saturday 10 am-4 pm (closed Monday June-August). 10 am-1 pm).

Casino of the Sun
7406 S. Camino de Oeste.

Phone 520-879-5400)

Daily 24 hours.

Take Interstate 10 to I-19 South, exit at Valencia and turn right. At Camino de Oeste, turn left for Casino of the Sun.

Casino del Sol

Take Interstate 10 to I-19 South, exit at Valencia and turn right. At Camino de Oeste continue straight for Casino del Sol.

5655 W. Valencia Road.

Phone 800-344-9435).

Daily 24 hours.
Dining and gaming in the form of slots, blackjack and video poker, video craps and video roulette await visitors to these two casinos operated by the Pascua Yaqui Tribe.

Catalina State Park

Oracle Road (Highway 77, about 20 minutes from downtown), Tucson.

Phone 520-628-5798.

Daily 5 am-10 pm, Visitor Center open daily 8 am-5 pm.

History and nature come together at this park. The Romero Ruin Interpretive Trail leads to an ancient Hohokam People village, and the rest of the park offers fantastic views of the Catalina Mountains' cliffs, canyons, domes and spires. You may even see bighorn sheep

Colossal Cave Mountain Park

16711 Old Spanish Trail (about 16 miles east of Tucson) 

Phone 520-647-7275.

16 March-15 September Monday-Saturday 8 am-6 pm, Sunday 8 am-7 pm; 16 September-15 March Monday-Saturday 9 am-5 pm, Sunday 9 am-6 pm.
This dormant mountain cave is filled with fantastic formations  stalactites, stalagmites, helictites and flowstone, and it's also filled with history. You'll learn about the bandits and train robbers who once used the caves as a hideout and the story of how the caves were discovered and opened to the public. The guided cave tour goes down about six and a half stories, and you must walk back up, so be prepared for a slightly strenuous outing. The temperature inside the cave remains about 70 F, so it is a pleasant place to visit any time of the year.

 

Desert Diamond Casino (New)

The newest Desert Diamond is located just seven minutes south of Valencia Road on I I9.

Phone 520-294-7777.

Monday-Friday 9 am-4 am, Saturday and Sunday

24 hours.
Two locations operated by the Tohono O'odham Nation offer slots, blackjack, bingo and satellite Keno.

Desert Diamond Casino  (Original)

The original Desert Diamond Casino, just west of the Tucson International Airport on South Nogales Highway, is open daily 24 hours.

Edward Nye Fish House

120 N. Main Ave.

El Presidio District, Tucson.

Phone 520-624-2333.
Sunday noon-4 pm, Monday-Saturday 10 am-4 pm (closed Monday June-August).  (free admission on Sunday 10 am-1 pm).
This excellent example of a territorial-style adobe home was built in 1867 on the site of the original Presidio's military barracks. Its thick walls and saguaro rib ceilings are typical of the architecture of that period. Today, the property houses the Goodman Pavilion of Western Art, which is part of the Tucson Museum of Art.

Flandrau Science Center and Planetarium

1601 University Blvd. (at Cherry Avenue on the University of Arizona campus), Tucson.

Phone 520-621-7827

Sunday 1-5 pm, Monday-Wednesday 9 am-5 pm, Thursday-Saturday 9 am-5 pm and 7-9 pm.
The University of Arizona's on-campus observatory, science center and planetarium. Interactive science exhibits educate and entertain, and the multimedia planetarium focuses on everything from ancient cultural practices and beliefs to the latest scientific discoveries.

Fort Lowell Museum

2900 N. Craycroft Road (in Fort Lowell Park), Tucson.

Phone 520-885-3832.
A few miles outside the original Presidio, this fort was the regimental headquarters of the 6th U.S. Cavalry. The fort fell to ruin when it was closed in the late 1800s, but the Arizona Historical Society has restored the commanding officer's quarters and stocked it with furnishings and artifacts from the period. Wednesday-Saturday 10 am-4 pm. 12-18, free under 12 (free admission first Saturday of each month).

International Wildlife Museum

4800 W. Gates Pass Road (near Old Tucson Studios), Tucson.

Phone 520-617-1439

Monday-Friday 9 am-5 pm, Saturday and Sunday 9 am-6 pm

The Safari Club International's nonprofit educational institute was founded in 1988 to educate visitors about Arizona's native wildlife, plus mammals, insects and birds from around the world. More than 400 species are on display, with many hands-on exhibits. A restaurant and gift shop are on-site, too.

International Wildlife Museum
This interactive attraction has more than 400 species of mammals, birds, and insects from around the world. Unlike zoos, the International Wildlife Museum doesn’t collect animals for exhibition. Animals are entrusted to the museum via donations. The museum also has a 98-seat movie theater that shows wildlife and natural history films at 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. The International Wildlife Museum is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

J. Knox Corbett House

180 N. Main Ave., El Presidio District, Tucson.

Phone 520-624-2333.

Sunday noon-4 pm, Monday-Saturday 10 am-4 pm (closed Monday June-August). Unlike the adobe and southwestern-style homes that surround it, the Corbett House was built in mission-revival style in the early 1900s. The house was once the home of Tucson's postmaster, but now abounds with rare arts and crafts. Be sure to see the medicine cabinets full of healing powders.

Kitt Peak Observatory

The observatory is open daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. except on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day. There are daily guided tours at the Kitt Peak Observatory, which is part of the National Optical Astronomy Observatory (NOAO). Kitt Peak operates three nighttime telescopes, 19 optical telescopes, and two radio telescopes.

La Casa Cordova

175 N. Meyer Ave., El Presidio District, Tucson

Sunday noon-4 pm, Monday-Saturday 10 am-4 pm (closed Monday June-August).

(free admission on Sunday 10 am-1 pm).

Phone 520-624-2333.

Tucson's oldest home, built in the mid-1800s is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and offers exhibits chronicling El Presidio District history. If you're visiting Tucson during the winter months, be sure to check out El Nacimiento, an elaborate holiday nativity scene depicting life in the Presidio and in Mexico, with more than 300 earthenware figurines.

Mount Lemmon Ski Valley
Most people don’t think of snow and skiing when they think of Tucson, but a trip to Mount Lemmon Ski Valley will change that perception. Mount Lemmon is more than 9,000 feet tall and is the southernmost ski area in the United States. People go skiing here from mid-December to early April. The site is an hour from Tucson and has ski equipment rentals, ski instruction, a restaurant and snack bar, and a gift shop.

Mission San Xavier del Bac

1950 W. San Xavier Road (on the Tohono O'odham Reservation

10 mi/16 km south of Tucson on I-19),

Tucson. Phone 520-294-2624.
 The original mission founded by Father Kino has been expanded and restored since it was erected in 1694. This "White Dove of the Desert" is a superb example of Spanish-mission architecture and houses a museum with religious artifacts and relics of the native peoples of the area. Gift shop and traditional Tohono O'odham arts and crafts shops on the premises. Daily 8 am-5 pm. Masses are held throughout the day, and self-guided tours are permitted. Free, but donations are accepted.

Old Tucson Studios

201 S. Kinney Road (about 25 minutes northwest of downtown), Tucson.

Phone 520-883-0100.

Daily 10 am-6 pm.
This replica of an 1880s frontier town is part television and film studio, part amusement park. Built in 1939, it has served as the set for more than 300 cowboy movies and TV shows, including The Quick and the Dead and Gunsmoke. Today, it's still a film studio, but it also has live western shows, a steam train, pony rides and the Western Legends Museum.  The site also has major concerts, festivals, sports events, and children’s activities.

Pima County Courthouse

115 N. Church Ave.,

El Presidio District, Tucson
This building, completed in 1929, is a good example of Spanish Colonial architecture. Its Moorish mosaic-tiled dome is lovely. A segment of the original Presidio wall (which surrounded Tucson's first settlement) can be viewed inside the building (plaques indicate where the wall once stood in the courtyard). Monday-Friday 9 am-5 pm. Free.

Pima Air & Space Museum

6000 E. Valencia Road (northeast of Tucson International Airport), Tucson.

Phone 520-574-0462.

More than 200 painstakingly restored aircraft, ranging from a Wright Brothers plane to the high-tech flyer, the SR-71 Blackbird. Don't miss the chance to tour the nearby Davis-Monthan AFB "Aircraft Graveyard," which has more than 5,000 aircraft, including World War II vintage and U.S. presidential planes. Tours are led by museum personnel and depart from the gift shop. In winter, reservations for these tours sometimes fill up months in advance. The museum is open daily 9 am-5 pm. Advance reservations required for "Boneyard" tours. Museum admission

Reid Park

22nd Street and Country Club Road (just east of downtown), Tucson.

Phone 520-791-4873.

Probably Tucson's most popular city park, this expansive greenbelt houses the Reid Park Zoo, the Hi Corbett Field baseball complex, a tiny lake with ducks and paddleboats, an amphitheater with frequent music and theater events, a rose garden and even its own golf course. Daily 8 am-10 pm. Free, with fees for some events and recreation

Reid Park Zoo

1030 S. Randolph Way (in Reid Park), Tucson.

Phone 505-881-4753

Daily 9 am-4 pm.

More than 400 animals from around the world can be seen in naturalistic surroundings at this zoo, located on the grounds of one of the city's most popular parks. Rhinos, zebras, elephants, polar bears, giraffes, baboons and anteaters are among the many species in residence.

Sabino Canyon is a pleasant oasis just northeast of town. Mammoths roamed through that area some 12,000 years ago, and around the year 1200,  the Hohokam constructed irrigation dams there. Today, Sabino Canyon provides an abundance of hiking trails and picnic spots, and you can take narrated shuttle-bus rides through this magnificent area of mountain peaks and canyons. 

 

Saguaro National Park

Phone 520-733-5158 (east).

Phone 520-773-5100 (west).

The entrance to the eastern part of the park is at Old Spanish Trail Road, 5 miles east of Tucson. The entrance to the western part of the park is at Kinney Road, 10 miles west of Tucson. Parks open daily 7 am-sunset, visitor centers open daily 8:30 am-5 pm. at east park.

Nearly 100,000 acres/40,000 hectares of desert are divided into two parks, and both are filled with saguaro cacti, the tall, green cactus with long arms. Many of these plants are quite old: Each arm can take anywhere from 75 to 100 years to grow. In late May, the saguaro produces white flowers. The western half of the park contains the Signal Hill Petroglyphs; the eastern park is home to the area's highest peaks.

 

San Xavier del Bac Mission
This structure, completed in 1797, still serves the community. San Xavier del Bac Mission is 12 miles south of Tucson and is decorated in the Baroque-style of Spain. The mission is located on the Tohono O’odham Reservation.

 
Sosa-Carrillo-Fremont House

151 S. Granada Ave. (just north of the Tucson Convention Center), downtown, Tucson.

Phone 520-622-0956.
Operated by the Arizona Historical Society, this home was the residence of two pioneering Tucson families (the Sosas and the Carrillos) as well as the daughter of the fifth Arizona territorial governor, John C. Fremont. The building has been restored to its 1870s splendor and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Wednesday-Saturday 10 am-4 pm..

 

St. Augustine Cathedral
Modeled after the Cathedral of Queretaro in Mexico, this turn-of-the-20th-century church has a bronze statue of St. Augustine above the entrance. In keeping with the church's desert environs, a saguaro cactus, a yucca plant and a horned lizard are also depicted. Mariachi music is featured at the 8 am Sunday mass. Other masses are celebrated on Sunday and throughout the week. Free, but donations are accepted. 192 S. Stone Ave., downtown, Tucson. Phone 520-623-6351.

 

Stevens/Duffield House

150 N. Main Ave., El Presidio District, Tucson.

Phone 520-624-2333.

Sunday noon-4 pm, Monday-Saturday 10 am-4 pm (closed Monday June-August
Much local folklore surrounds this home. It is said that Hiram Stevens, a local politician in the mid-1800s, shot his young wife in the head and then committed suicide there. Thanks to her silver hair comb, though, his wife survived. 

Tucson Botanical Gardens
Tucson Botanical Gardens is a respite in the heart of the city. The 5-acre spot has 15 specialty gardens with more than 4,200 plants. The attraction is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. except on July 4, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day.

Titan Missile Museum
A ballistic missile museum that gives you a close-up look at the Titan missile program and the part it played in the Cold War. At one time, the 165-ton liquid-fuel rocket held a nuclear payload 214 times more powerful than the atomic bomb that destroyed Hiroshima. November-April daily 9 am-5 pm, May-October Wednesday-Sunday 9 am-5 pm. 1580 W. Duval Mine Road (about 20 minutes south of Tucson), Sahuarita. Phone 520-625-7736.

Tucson Children's Museum

200 S. Sixth Ave. (in the Carnegie Library building), downtown, Tucson.

Phone 520-792-9985.

An interactive facility where kids can practice being doctors, lawyers and firefighters. There's also a dinosaur exhibit with hand-crafted models. Sunday noon-5 pm, Tuesday-Saturday 10 am-5 pm..

Tucson Museum of Art

140 N. Main Ave., El Presidio District, Tucson.

Phone 520-624-2333

Sunday noon-4 pm, Monday-Saturday 10 am-4 pm (closed Mondays June-August).
The permanent collection of more than 5,000 works includes Asian, pre-Columbian, Hispanic and contemporary American art (including art from the Southwest). Founded in 1924, the museum property includes five historic Tucson homes (La Casa Cordova, the Sosa-Carrillo-Fremont House and the former homes of Edward Nye Fish, J. Knox Corbett and Leonardo Romero), which may be toured.

Tohono Chul Park

7366 N. Paseo del Norte, Tucson.

Phone 520-742-6455.

Newly renovated with additional exhibit areas and shops, this "desert corner" (chul means "corner" in the Tohono O'odham language) teems with Sonoran plant and animal life. A short trail takes you through gardens and washes, another goes through natural desert surroundings. Many bird species, including hummingbirds and quail, gravitate to the park's aviary area. The 1937 adobe Exhibit House hosts regular activities, exhibits and events. The Tea Room and Garden Cafe is a charming spot to enjoy breakfast, lunch or afternoon tea. The park is open daily 8 am-5 pm. Galleries and shops are open daily 8:30 am-5 pm. The Tea Room is open daily 8 am-5 pm.

Tucson Botanical Gardens

Daily 8:30 am-4:30 pm.

2150 N. Alvernon Way, Tucson.

Phone 505-326-9686.

In the heart of the city lies a 5-acre/12-hectare garden oasis featuring more than 4,000 individual plants representing different horticultural environments. Fifteen specialty gardens include a historical garden, an herb garden, a butterfly garden, a cactus and succulent garden, and more. Don't miss the enclosed Tropical Exhibit, whose leafy greenery and high humidity offer a refreshingly vivid contrast to the arid Sonoran Desert.

Tucson Electric Park
Major League Baseball is in full swing during the spring at Tucson Electric Park. This facility is considered to be one of the best spring training sites in the country. The Arizona Diamondbacks and the Chicago White Sox train at this 3,000-seat stadium. The Diamondback’s AAA affiliate, the Tucson Sidewinders also train and play here. The park sits in the Kino Veterans Memorial Complex. Check with the park’s box office for game times and opponents.

University of Arizona Mineral Museum

University Boulevard and Cherry Avenue (in the Flandrau Science Center on the University of Arizona campus), Tucson. Phone 520-621-4227.

Sunday 1-5 pm, Monday-Friday 9 am-5 pm.
Examples of more than 15,000 minerals, gems and even meteorites from the museum's permanent collection are circulated through the university's exhibits, making it one of the largest public collections in the U.S. About 2,000 artifacts are on display at any given time. Other exhibits chronicle the history of Arizona mining and minerals.

Events & Entertainment

January

Annual Tucson Quilt Show

Held in mid January

Location: Tucson Convention Center

520-547-5463

More than 300 quilts and other quilted items are featured.

Southern Arizona Dance Festival

Held in mid January

Location: Tucson Convention Center

520-885-6273

Square dancers, round dancers and cloggers from all over the USA convene to enjoy and demonstrate dancing.

Family Arts Festival

Held in mid January

Location: Tucson Convention Center Plaza and El Presidio Park

520-624-0595

Annual celebration of local arts scene, with exhibits, concerts, and performances at family-friendly festival.

ARIPEX Stamp Show

Held in mid January

Location: Tucson Convention Center

520-791-4101

World-renowned international philatelic (stamp) exhibition.

Tucson Gem, Mineral & Fossil Showcase

Held in late January – mid February

Location: Multiple throughout the city

800-638-8350

One of the world’s largest marketplaces of its kind, with 37 locations around town, featuring international dealers of precious gems, minerals, fossils, beads, jewelry, and jewelry-making materials.

February

Tubac Festival of the Arts

Held in early – mid February

Location: Historic Drive

520-398-2704

Historic village offers more than 90 galleries, boutiques, and working artists' studios, with art, history, and native crafts.

Annual Tucson Gem & Mineral Show

Held in mid February

Location: Tucson Convention Center

520-322-5773

Retail and public exhibits of minerals, jewelry, gems, fossils, lapidary creations, geodes, and meteorites by dealers and exhibitors from around the world. Children can visit the junior education table organized by Society of Earth Sciences students from the University of Arizona.

La Fiesta de los Vaqueros Tucson Rodeo & Parade

Held mid – late February

Location: Tucson Rodeo Grounds

520-741-7273

One of the top 20 rodeos in North America, featuring a week of championship roping and riding events, one of the world's longest non-motorized parade, and country and western musical entertainment.

Chrysler Classic of Tucson

Held in late February

Location: Omni Tucson National Golf Resort

800-882-7660

Southern Arizona's official PGA Tour golf tournament, with proceeds benefiting youth athletic programs, sponsored since 1945 by Tucson Conquistadores.

Southwest Indian Art Fair

Held in late February

Location: Arizona State Museum, University of Arizona

520-626-8381

High quality Indian art fair, featuring 200 artists from around the Southwest, with musical entertainment.

March

Major League Baseball Spring Training

Held the entire month

Location: Tucson Electric Park and Hi Corbett Fields

520-434-1111

Major League Baseball warms up for the regular season as the Arizona Diamondbacks, Chicago White Sox, Colorado Rockies, and other pro teams play ball practically every day in March.

Tucson Winter Chamber Music Festival

Held in early – mid March

Location: Tucson Convention Center

520-579-3703

Nationally and internationally renowned chamber music groups perform in the intimate setting of Leo Rich Theater, Tucson Convention Center.

Wingspan FilmFest

Held in mid March

Location: The Loft Cinema

520-624-1779

Films focus on the diverse experiences of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people, which present new perspectives on issues concerning the LGBT community.

Aviation Day at Ryan Airfield

Held in mid March

Location: Ryan Airfield

520-883-9800

Dime-a-pound airplane rides, tenant displays and hangar open house, with aircraft displays and airfield tours; refreshments.

Civil War in the Southwest

Held in mid March

Location: Picacho Peak State Park

520-466-3183

History re-enacted by soldiers in period costume, with staged battles, encampments, and demonstrations, at the site of the only Civil War battle in Arizona—The Battle of Picacho Pass, April 15, 1862.

Powwow

Held in mid March

Location: Masson San Xavier del Bac

520-294-5727

Annual gathering of local Tohono O'odham Indian people, along with other Native tribes, with dancing, drumming, craftworks, and food.

Fourth Avenue Spring Street Fair

Held in mid March

Location: Between Ninth St. & University Boulevard on Fourth Ave.

520-624-5004

Hundreds of arts and crafts booths, food vendors, street musicians and performers, and kids' entertainment.

Ed Schieffelin's Territorial Days

Held in mid March

Location: Tucson

888-457-3929

Stagecoach rides, street performers, log sawing and spike driving contests, duck racing, and pet parade.

April

Wildflower Festival

Held in early April

Location: Tohono Chul Park

520-742-6455

Stroll among penstamens, bluebells, and salvia at their peak, savor gourmet food, and enjoy Southwestern musical favorites at benefit helping to preserve Tohono Chul's art, culture and nature. 

ASUA Spring Fling

Held in early – mid April

Location: Rilito Downs

520-621-5610

One of the nation's largest student-run carnivals features fun rides, midway games, food, and amateur and professional entertainment. 

Spring Home & Patio Show

Held in early April

Location: Tucson Convention Center

520-795-3025

Building, landscaping, and home decorating ideas at Tucson Convention Center.

Tombstone Rose Festival

Held in early April

Location: Tucson

888-457-3929

Tribute to world-famous 118-year-old rose tree; picnic-basket auction, cake contest, Rose Parade.

Arizona International Film Festival

Held in mid April

Location: Multiple locations around Tucson

520-628-1737

The latest independent films representing worldwide contemporary cinematic diversity, with opportunities to meet the filmmakers at workshops, seminars and presentations at multiple locations around Tucson.

Tucson International Mariachi Conference

Held in mid April

Location: Tucson Convention Center

520-838-3913

This award-winning conference is one of Tucson's largest cultural events and a model for other conferences nationwide, with mariachi music, folkloric dancing, student workshops, a concert at Tucson Convention Center, and a community fiesta at Armory Park. 

May

Cinco de Mayo

Held in early May

Location: Kennedy Park Fiesta Area

520-292-9326

This national holiday in Mexico celebrates an impossible battle won on May 5, 1862, when the French attacked two forts located in the city of Pueblo. Fiesta has dancing, music, crafts, and food.

Wyatt Earp Days

Held in late May

Location:  Tombstone

888-457-3929

Celebrate the life and times of the Old West's most famous lawman in "the town too tough to die," with costumed entertainers, a barbecue, stagecoach rides.

June

Juneteenth Festival

Held in mid June

Location: Kennedy Park Fiesta Area

520-225-2670

Festival commemorates June 19, 1865--the day Southern slaves got word of the Emancipation Proclamation. Food, fashion, crafts and live performances at Kennedy Park Fiesta Area.

July

Hassan Bak: Saguaro Harvest Celebration

Held in early July

Location: La Posta Quemada Ranch

520-647-7121

Celebrate the majestic saguaro cactus during summer harvest time, with saguaro facts, hands-on workshops and Tohono O'odham Rain Dancers.

Tucson's 4th of July Celebration

Held on July 4

Location: Tucson Convention Center

520-791-4101

Music, food, and fireworks, beginning at 6 p.m. and featuring Little Anthony’s Classic Car Show; Tucson Fire Department and Southwest Ambulance vehicles for children to explore; performances by the Desert Cadillacs and Neon Prophet. Fireworks display at 9 p.m. 

August

August Festival at Sonoita Vineyards

Held in early August

Location: Sonoita Vineyards

502-455-5893

Commemorating the anticipated bountiful harvest; with grape-stomping contest, tractor-drawn guided vineyard tour and grape-tasting, live music, and local restaurants providing food to complement the wines.

La Fiesta de San Agustin

Held in early – mid August

Location: Armory Park & Saint Augustine Cathedral

520-626-4312
Celebrate Tucson's birthday, with outdoor festival honoring Tucson’s patron saint, Saint Augustine. Live entertainment, art exhibits, speakers, concessions, and mass at Saint Augustine Cathedral.

Tucson Sidewinders Baseball

Held all of August

Location: Tucson Electric Park

520-434-1021

All summer long, AAA affiliate of Arizona Diamondbacks plays baseball at Tucson Electric Park, with give-aways and special events, such as fireworks displays.

Vigilante Days

Held in mid August

Location: Tombstone

888-457-3929

Wild West history comes to life in the streets of the “town too tough to die.”

September

Oktoberfest on Mount Lemmon

Held in mid September

Location: Mount Lemmon Ski Valley

520-885-1181

In the pines and aspens, enjoy German food and beer, music, dancing, and costumes--join the dancing or relax on a blanket on the ski slopes.

Rex Allen Days

Held in late September – early October

Location: Willcox

520-384-2272

A celebration of the contributions of legendary cowboy singer and Willcox native, the late Rex Allen, professional rodeo, parade, concerts, cowboy poetry, music, and food.

October

Anza Days

Dates vary in October

Location: Tubac Presido State Historic Park

520-398-2704

A living history of the Indian, Mexican and Spanish colonial periods. Enjoy "Los Tubaquenos," military demonstrations, folklorico dancers, ethnic music and lots of children's activities.

Buckelew Farm Pumpkin Festival & Corn Maze

Held most of October

Location: 17000 West Aio Way

520-822-2277

Open the last three weekends in October. Horse-drawn wagon rides, U-Pick-It experience (Sat & Sun, days); 15-acre corn maze, haunted corn field (Fri & Sat. nights).

Butterfield Overland Stage Days

Held in mid October

Location: Benson

520-586-2842

Festival commemorates the stop along the mid-1880s stage line that linked St. Louis with San Francisco; also Pony Express reenactment, rodeo, car show, entertainment and food.

Desert Thunder Pro Rodeo

Held in mid October

Location: Tucson Rodeo Grounds

520-721-1621

Competitive professional rodeo with roping contests, bronc busting, and free pony rides for the kids.

Fall Home & Garden Show

Held in mid October

Location: Tucson Convention Center

520-795-3025

The latest in building, landscaping, and home decorating products exhibited at Tucson Convention Center.

Festival of Color Hot Air Balloon Rally

Held in mid October

Location: Sierra Vista

800-288-3861

Colorful hot-air balloons fill the blue skies at festival presented by Wells Fargo.

Helldorado Days

Held in mid October

Location: Tombstone

888-457-3929

Tombstone's oldest festival celebrating the rip-roaring heyday of "the town too tough to die," with annual parade, street vignettes, music.

Nightfall: Resurrection

Held in late October

Location: Old Tucson Studios

520-883-0100

A Halloween tradition, with daring stunts, thrilling walk-through adventures, and a trick-or-treat trail, presented as only a movie studio can.

Oro Valley Jazz Festival

Held in late October

Location: Riverfront Park, Oro Valley

520-797-3959

Music, artisans market, food, with New York jazz greats and talented local musicians at Riverfront Park.

Tucson Blues Festival

Held in mid October

Location: DeMeester Outdoor Performance Center, Reid Park

520-791-4079

Hear live music, enjoy great food, and shop for merchandise at this Tucson Blues Society annual event.

Tucson Bluegrass Festival

Held in late October

Location: Pima County Fairgrounds

520-296-1231

Bluegrass and other old-time traditional music performed live.

November

Tucson Fall Festival Horse Show

Held in early November

Location: Pima County Fairgrounds

520-762-9100

Hunter-jumper horse show at Pima County Fairgrounds.

Tucson Celtic Festival

Held in early November

Location: Rilito Park Racetrack

520-743-9291

Annual celebration of Scottish and Irish cultures, with pipe bands, singers, dancers, magicians, and food vendors at Rillito Park Racetrack.

December

El Nacimiento (The Nativity)

Held the entire month of December

Location: Tucson Museum of Art Historic Block

520-624-2333

Traditional Mexican nativity scene showcases more than 300 earthen figurines, displayed at a restored adobe residence dating from the 1800s.

Tucson Marathon & Expo

Held in early December

Location: From Oracle to Oro Valley

520-320-0667

Scenic downhill course, ranked as one of America’s fastest, takes runners from Oracle to Oro Valley and is a Boston Marathon qualifier. Also 5-K, 1- and 2-mile fun runs and half-marathon.

Fourth Avenue Winter Street Fair

Held in mid December

Location: Fourth Avenue Shopping District

520-624-5004

Artisans, food vendors, and entertainers from around the country line the streets selling their wares.

Entertainment

Arizona Friends of Chamber Music

Performances held at the Leo Rich Theatre

520-577-3769

Call for performance schedule

Presenting some of the world's finest chamber music groups: Evening Chamber Music Series, Tucson Winter Chamber Music Festival, and Sunday Matinee Series "Piano & Friends." Leo Rich Theatre in Tucson Convention Center.

Arizona Opera

3501 N. Mountain Ave.
Tucson, AZ 85719

520-293-4336

Call for performance schedule

Five productions each season running Oct. - April in the Tucson Convention Center Music Hall. All performances are sung in their original language with English translations projected above the stage.

Arizona Theatre Company

Temple of Music & Art

330 S. Scott Ave.
Tucson, AZ 85701

520-622-2823

Call for performance schedule
One of Arizona's leading professional theater companies, performing September through May.

Ballet Arizona

3645 E. Indian School Rd.
Phoenix, AZ 85018
888-322-5538

Call for performance schedule

Ballet Arizona is one of the Southwest's premier professional ballet companies.  Performances held at venues throughout the state.

Broadway in Tucson

260 S Church Ave

Tucson, AZ 85702

520-903-2929

Call for performance schedule

Broadway in Tucson brings Broadway's best to downtown Tucson with performances at the Tucson Convention Center's Music Hall and Leo Rich Theatre.

Invisible Theatre

1400 N. First Ave.
Tucson, AZ 85719

520-882-9721

Season runs September - June

Call for performance schedule

One of Tucson's premier off-Broadway theatres features fine contemporary comedy, drama, and music.

Tucson Jazz

721 N Fourth Ave
Tucson, AZ 85705
520-903-1265

Call for performance schedule

The source for Tucson's jazz scene. Generations of promoting, presenting and preserving America's music through concerts and educational activities.

Tucson Symphony Orchestra

2175 N. 6th Ave.
Tucson, AZ 85705

520-882-8585

Call for performance schedule

Serving Tucson and Southern Arizona with music of the highest caliber in a series of classics, pops, chamber, and family.

Reid Park Zoo

1030 S. Randolph Way (in Reid Park), Tucson.

Phone 505-881-4753

Daily 9 am-4 pm.

More than 400 animals from around the world can be seen in naturalistic surroundings at this zoo, located on the grounds of one of the city's most popular parks. Rhinos, zebras, elephants, polar bears, giraffes, baboons and anteaters are among the many species in residence.

Tucson Children’s Museum

200 S. Sixth Ave. (in the Carnegie Library building), downtown, Tucson.

Phone 520-792-9985.

The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Sunday from noon to 5 p.m.

This museum is aimed at children ages 6 through 12 and has different areas for them to explore. The Tucson Children’s Museum features 10 hands-on galleries that demonstrate science, machinery, and natural history.

Arizona-Sonoran Desert Museum

2021 N. Kinney Road (30 minutes northwest of downtown), Tucson.

Phone 520-883-2702.

October-February daily 8:30 am-5 pm, March-September daily 7:30 am-5 pm. November-April

Prairie dogs pop up, rattlesnakes slither (behind protective glass), coyotes howl and Gila monsters lie in the high noon sun at this wonderful museum with more than 300 species of native wildlife. Tours and live demonstrations can teach you even more about what lives in the Sonoran Desert.

Columbia University's Biosphere 2 Center

Oracle Road (Highway 77) at mile marker 96.5 (about 20 minutes north of Tucson), Oracle.

Daily 9 am-4 pm.

Phone 520-838-6200.
All of Earth's climates and ecosystems including oceans, rain forests, marshes, deserts, and African-style savannahs are represented within the center's 3-acre glass-and-steel structure. An updated tour includes a new visitor center, movie, and gift shop.   The guided tour leads visitors Under the Glass  to experience first-hand the center's re-created "miniworld." Visitors are advised to wear comfortable shoes as there is a lot of walking

Funtasticks Family Fun Park

221 E. Wetmore Road (next to Tucson Mall), Tucson.

Phone 520-888-4653.

A park with a diverse range of family entertainment. For small children, there are mini go-karts and tiny bumper boats, a pint-sized arcade and even a kiddie coaster. Older kids (and adults, too) can take a swing at the batting cages, miniature golf, bungee trampoline and video arcade. Daily; hours vary by season, call for details.

Justin's Water World

3551 S. San Joaquin Road, Tucson.

Phone 505-883-8340.

May-September Friday-Sunday 10 am-5 pm.

Waterslides and pools for children of all ages are in store for visitors to Justin's Water World.